Letter to Nadhim Zahawi, Secretary of State for Education, MP

17 September 2021

A PDF of the letter is also attached below.

17 September 2021

Rt. Hon Nadhim Zahawi MP
Secretary of State for Education
Sanctuary Buildings
Great Smith Street
London. SW1P 3BT

Dear Secretary of State,

ITE Market Review

The purpose of this letter is to congratulate you on your appointment as Secretary of State for Education. UCET, NASBTT, UUK and MillionPlus have enjoyed a long-standing and collegiate relationship with DfE ministers and officials and we look forward to working with you in the years ahead.

We would also welcome an early opportunity to meet with you to discuss the current review of the ITE market about which we have a number of concerns. While there are parts of the ITT Market Review report which we are pleased to support, we are extremely worried about the likely impact of the proposals on teacher supply, the additional pressures that will be placed on schools and on the professionalism of the teaching profession. A number of prestigious and high-quality ITE providers have already indicated that they will withdraw from teacher education if the reforms in their current form go ahead.

We understand that you will have a number of immediately competing priorities for your attention but would urge you to reconsider and perhaps pause the review, allowing time for everyone with an interest in teacher education to work together to co-construct reforms that will build on the existing and proven strengths of the teacher education sector and lead to changes that we can all unite behind. While this may result in some delay to the reform process, there is no immediate rush and it will be better to spend time on developing a system that will work rather than rush into something which carries with it clear and significant risks.

Many congratulations again on your appointment.

Yours sincerely